Individuals pin wins at Invitational

A prep wrestler goes for the win at the North Summit Invitational on Saturday.

There was a great turnout for this year’s North Summit wrestling Invitational. There were sixteen schools in attendance. Noticeably absent was South Summit, who attended duals at Weber High School. The meet started over an hour late due to a problem with the brackets. This not only caused a late start, but it pitted two wrestlers against each other from the same school.

Out of 10 Park City wrestlers, seven competed. The closest win was Doug Eaton, who was up 2 points, 5 3 when he was pinned.

According to Coach Eric O’Connor this year’s team is working and training hard to overcome inexperience. "I hope to start a summer wrestling program, so the kids can get some experience in the off season," said O’Connor.

The Oakley School made a strong showing. "This may be our first year, but we have three guys that have a lot of experience," said Coach Russell Love.

A good example of that experience was Greg Vernon who won in the 140-pound weight class. Vernon is from Florida and has several years of wrestling under his belt. Vernon’s chances of going to state this year are good, according to Coach Love.

Coach Love also brings experience to the mat with 8 years of assistant coaching at Jordan High School. "The only problem will be getting kids to come back every year," said Love.

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North Summit, the host of this invitational, had 19 wrestlers in attendance. They had champions in the 130-, 171-, and 189-pound weight classes.

North Summit was at the State finals last year and is expecting to return. Coach Rene Potter expects Travis Moore, 125 pounds, Nick Robinson, 130 pounds, Darrel Richardson, 152 pounds, and Coltan Potter, 189 pounds, to make it this year.

The most exciting match for North Summit was when two of its own wrestlers were pitted against each other. Because of bracketing problems and weigh-ins, this match was the one to watch.

Moore, a sophomore, and Robinson, a senior, squared off in a match that would go almost all three periods. After numerous take-downs in the first two periods, Robertson pinned Moore with 55 seconds left in the third.

"It sucks when you have to go up against one of your own," said Robinson about the match. Robinson hopes to get a scholarship so he can continue to wrestle after high school. He wants to go to Dixie State in St. George so he can golf and be warm.

"It never feels good, it’s messed up," said Moore after the match. According to both wrestlers, there is never bad blood when they have to wrestle each other. Both agreed, though, "We’re still friends afterward, no matter who won,"

TEAM POINTS 1. UNION

239.5 2. BEAR LAKE

174.0 3. DUCHESNE

170.0 4. TOOELE

167.5 5. MT VIEW WY

155.0 6. COKEVILLE WY

151.0 7. JORDAN

142.0 8. NORTH SUMMIT

140.0 9. HUNTER

139.0 10. WASATCH J.V

106.0 THAT WAS THE TOP TEN, ALSO THE REST OF THE TEAMS WERE 11. OGDEN 12. KEMMERER 13. WOODS CROSS 14. OAKLEY 15. PARK CITY 16. GRANTSVILLE WEIGHT CLASS CHAMPIONS FROM OUR AREA NICK ROBINSON